Industry Shorts: Fifa, Rlwc2021
FIFA has hosted its first Council Meeting in China, where plans for a revamped Club World Cup were revealed, as well as an overview of the timeline for 2030 World Cup bidding.
The meeting in Shanghai saw China voted as hosts of a new FIFA Club World Cup competition, which will see the tournament expanded to 24 teams and a new qualification process which will be announced after further consultation.
Meanwhile, FIFA has also announced that the bidding process for the 2030 World Cup will take place in 2024, with the full timeline scheduled to be laid out in 2022. Football Associations in Britain and Ireland are currently conducting a feasibility study with a view to a joint bid for the centenary tournament.
Organisers of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021), which will be held in England, have invited the public to be part of what is billed as a record-breaking volunteer team.
RLWC2021 says that 2,021 volunteers will help across all three competitions – men’s women’s and wheelchair tournaments, players in all three of which will receive the same payment for the first time.
Anyone who registers their interest in joining up can also suggest a name for the volunteer team, with suggestions being put to a public vote. The winner will receive two tickets to the tournament’s first game at St James’ Park in Newcastle. Previous editions of the tournament have seen the volunteer team named as ‘Team 13’ and ‘The Cup Squad’.
Manchester City have announced Nestle Professional as the club’s new Official Coffee, Vegan and Vegetarian Partner.
The unusual sponsor positioning will see Nestle’s Azera coffee, as well as the plant-based Garden Gourmet burger and YES! Nut, fruit and vegetable bars available to fans at the Etihad and Academy Stadiums on matchdays.
The collaboration between the brand and the Premier League champions also promises digital content, matchday activations and events as well as creating opportunities for the local community, ‘using football and food service as tools for social change.’
Catherine Bond Muir has joined the Motorsport UK board, the national governing body for four-wheel motorsport.
The W Series CEO and Sport Industry Awards 2019 judge is one of four new members of the board, which the governing body says comes “as a result of wholescale change in the sport’s governance.”
Global football publisher Goal has partnered with Soccer Manager 2020.
As part of the deal, Goal will provide the in-game news to the manager’s in-tray, while the publisher’s annual awards will feature as part of the game and advertising hoardings during matches will feature Goal’s logo.
Professional esports organisation Misfits Gaming has named former InCrowd Sports Chief Commercial Officer Matt Bailey as its new Senior Director of Sponsorship Sales and Services.
Bailey is Misfits’ first senior commercial hire in Europe and will be tasked with growing the team’s brand and looking for new partners.
